USPS Proposes Three Cent Increase In Cost Of Stamps
September 25, 2013
The U.S. Postal Service has announced proposed price changes, including an increase in the price of a first class letter from 46 cents to 49 cents. The proposed changes, which would go into effect in January, are intended to generate $2 billion in annual revenue for the Postal Service.
Other types of mail would also increase in cost:
- Letters (1 oz.) — 3-cent increase to 49 cents
- Letters additional ounces — 1-cent increase to 21 cents
- Letters to all international destinations (1 oz.) — $1.15
- Postcards — 1-cent increase to 34 cents
In a letter disseminated to customers today, Board of Governors Chairman Mickey Barnett described the “precarious financial condition” of the Postal Service and the “uncertain path toward enactment of postal reform legislation” as primary reasons for seeking price changes. He also indicated that the price adjustment is necessary in order to ensure that the Postal Service will be able to maintain and continue the development of postal services.
“Of the options currently available to the Postal Service to align costs and revenues, increasing postage prices is a last resort that reflects extreme financial challenges,” said Barnett in the letter. “However, if these financial challenges were alleviated by the timely enactment of laws that close a $20 billion budget gap, the Postal Service would reconsider its pricing strategy. We are encouraged by the recent introduction of comprehensive postal reform legislation in Congress, and despite an uncertain legislative process, we are hopeful that legislation can be enacted this year.”
Pictured top: Forever stamps. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Realtors: Local Home Sales On The Upswing
September 23, 2013
Single-family home sales across Florida grew 12.5 percent in August compared to the same period a year earlier, the Florida Realtors reported Thursday, with the local market expanding at almost twice that rate.
In the Escambia-Santa Rosa market, new home sales were up 22.6 percent in August over last year, while local condo and townhouse sales were up 6.1 percent. The average home sale price in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties was up 4.7 percent from last year to $157,000.
The Realtors reported there were 20,933 sales closed statewide on existing single-family homes last month. The median sales price for single-family homes was $175,000, up 18.6 percent from a year earlier. That was down from the $179,500 median price on the 20,632 single-family homes that were sold statewide in July. The median sales price on single-family homes nationwide, based upon July numbers, is $214,000, up 13.5 percent from the prior year.
Free Family Movie Night To Feature ‘Despicable Me’
September 23, 2013
The Northwest Escambia Baseball Park and NorthEscambia.com are teaming up to bring you a free Family Movie Night. Mark your calendars now…on Saturday, October 19 at 7 p.m., we’ll bring you “Despicable Me” on the big screen.
Bring your blankets or chairs. No outside coolers; concessions will be available. This is a family event; no alcohol or inappropriate behavior will be tolerated.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted toward the cost of the event for NWE’s 2014 baseball season.
Bradberry Park is located on Highway 99A in Walnut Hill, directly behind Ernest Ward Middle School.
Manna Food Pantries Celebrates 30th Birthday In A Big Way
September 22, 2013
Manna Food Pantries held their 30th Birthday Bash on Saturday.
The event raised over $33,000 for Manna, enough money to feed 6,400 more members of the local community from just a one-day event. The Birthday Bash included a barbecue, gourmet cake contest and two auctions.
Winners in the Gourmet Birthday Cake Contest were: first place Angel Cakes, second place Betty Weber, third place Cupcake Emporium, and the People’s Choice winner was Angel Cakes.
Pictured: Manna Food Pantries 30th Birthday Bash was held on Saturday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Burk Named Tate Homecoming Queen (With Homecoming Photo Gallery)
September 21, 2013
The Tate High School Aggies celebrated Homecoming 2013 Friday night.
Bailey Burk was crowned homecoming queen during an evening that included the annual homecoming parade. The Aggies honored their 1962 state baseball championship team, including Major League Hall of Fame member Don Sutton. The graduation classes of 1963 and 2003 were also recognized.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
Pictured top: Bailey Burk was named Tate High School’s homecoming queen Friday night. Pictured inset: Major League Hall of Fame member Don Sutton. Pictured below: Homecoming parade. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kaliegh Blackmon and Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
New Escambia School District Website Now Online
September 20, 2013
The Escambia County School District’s main website has a new look.
The new site is located at www.escambiaschools.org, but the old address of www.escambia.k12.fl.us should be automatically redirected to the new page.
Changes to the site were made based on recommendations from the district’s Web Site Task Force, which is composed of 13 representatives from district departments and schools as well as the community. One of the goals of the Task Force was to make the district’s web site more user-friendly. As the school district migrates content to the new design, visitors to the web site will see five main improvements:
- New design with common menus on all of the main district web site pages to enable easy navigation
- Expanded, alphabetical listing of resources for Students, Families, Staff, and Community
- Quick Links highlighting the most important information based on site usage statistics and input from district leadership
- Social media (beginning with Facebook and Google Calendar) to expand access to news and events
- Faster access to school web sites and consistent placement of common elements on all school web sites for ease of use
Pictured top: A screenshot of the new Escambia County School District website. The site features rotating photos, including this NorthEscambia.com photo of the recent groundbreaking at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Change Of Address: Bratt House Moved
September 19, 2013
There was a big change of address Wednesday for a home that was located on North Highway 99, just north of Highway 4. The home was moved about 10 miles to its new location by Williams House Movers of Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sneak Peek: Color Scheme Inside The New Ernest Ward Middle
September 18, 2013
There’s not even a foundation in place for the new Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill, but we have a sneak peek at the color scheme for the new school. The interior of the school will feature a variety of earth tone colors, the school colors of blue and gold. The building will have a light-colored aluminum roof.
The color scheme has been approved by a school staff committee, and the School Advisory Council signed off on the colors during a meeting Tuesday morning.
Pictured top: The cafeteria design and color scheme for the new Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured below: The color scheme of a standard classroom. Pictured bottom: the complete color scheme for the new Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Free Wi-Fi Now Offered At North Escambia Community Centers
September 18, 2013
Three community centers in the North Escambia area now offering free wireless internet access.
The Wi-Fi access is available for use by those renting the Byrneville, Davisville and Walnut Hill community center for parties, reunions or other events. A password to access the wireless internet is available at the time the rental contract is signed.
“We hope the free Wi-Fi will encourage more use of the community centers, especially for meetings where the internet access is needed,” District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry said.
The county is using a Verizon hotspot to provide the internet service at 3G or 4G speeds, depending on location. Free high speed Wi-Fi was already available at the Molino Community Center.
George Stone Adult Academy Offers GED, ESOL Classes
September 16, 2013
The Adult Academy at George Stone Technical Center has several opportunities throughout the community to prepare for the GED test. All of the classes have open entry/open exit, which means you can enroll at anytime and exit when you are ready to take the GED exam.
The first step of enrollment is to take the TABE Assessment (Test of Adult Basic Education) to identify areas where improvement is needed prior to the exam. The assessment is given on Fridays at 8:00 a.m. at the George Stone Technical Center. There is a $10 fee and a photo identification is required. For more information about the TABE test, contact the George Stone Assessment department at (850) 941-6200, ext.2160.
Tuition for all adult education programs is $30 per term for students with verifiable Florida residency for the previous 12 month period or $120 for out-of-state tuition.
Classes are available at the following sites:
- Molino Community Center – (850) 587-5334, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-8 p.m.
- Pathways for Change Family Center – (850) 637-1429, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Sacred Heart Hospital – (850) 416-6361, Thursdays 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- East Brent Baptist Church – (850) 475-7883, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Frist Baptist Church Warrington – (850) 456-8420, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-8 p.m.
- George Stone Technical Center – (850) 941-6200, ext.2110, Monday – Friday 8-11 a.m. and 11:30-2:30 p.m. and Monday – Thursday 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.
For online GED preparation, email jwolfe@escambia.k12.fl.us.
An English As a Second Language Class is available at La Costa Latina, Hispanic Resource Center, 5465 N. Pensacola Blvd., (850) 494-7899.
For more information visit www.georgestonecenter.com or contact Lydia Henderson (850) 941-6200, ext. 2121 or lhenderson@escambia.k12.fl.us.